Trek Talk - ElderTreks Blog

If this is the year you resolved to visit a part of the world that is still relatively new to tourism, a place that bridges the divide between western and eastern cultures, and a place where the history, people, and landscapes are sure to impress, why not consider the Caucasus?

Made up of three countries, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, the Caucasus is just waiting to be discovered, a part of the world as complex and beautiful as the 60 or more languages spoken here, some of which trace back to a version of spoken Aramaic from the time of Jesus.

With such a long and storied history, the reasons to visit are many, but here are 3 why the Caucasus should make your 'Discover List':

Culture: East meets West

Although it is the Caucasus mountains that 'officially' divide Europe from Asia, Georgia, Armenia and Ajerbaijan manage to blur the lines between these two cultures. Stroll through Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, and you may be surprised to find tree-lined boulevards that look more like the streets of Paris than the bazaars of Iran. Talk to Georgians, some of the most welcoming people you will ever meet, and many of them will identify themselves as European.

Armenia, to the south of Georgia, also shares a border with Iran and you'll see strong influences from that culture in crafts such as carpet-making in which Armenian artisans rival their Arab counterparts in their skill and quality. But their own unique motifs and iconography set Armenian rugs apart from middle eastern designs found in places like Tabriz, for example.

Armenian cuisine, too is a blend of both middle eastern and Mediterranean foods, with dishes flavoured with eastern spice, but also influenced by Greece and Cyprus to the west.

Azerbaijan, on the other hand, looks and feels much more middle eastern. Centuries of conquest and rule by Persian and Turkic empires led to the country becoming predominantly Muslim, and the mosques, palaces and historic monuments that characterize their cities reflect this. The walled city of Baku with its Shirvanshah's Palace is a beautiful example of this (and a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well.) Here, there's no mistaking the eastern legacy left behind by past cultures, which is in start contrast to Azerbaijan's Christian neighbours.

The Cradle of Christianity

Armenia was the first country to declare itself a Christian nation in 301 AD, with Georgia following suit shortly after, and to this day, more than 90% of their population is Christian. As a result, both countries are considered the cradle of Christianity and boast some of the most impressive ancient monasteries in the world - like Armenia's UNESCO-designated Geghard Monastery.

Geghard Monastery Photo via Wikipedia

Surrounded by cliffs, the building was partially carved out of the mountain itself, and claims to house some of Christianity's most famous relics, the most celebrated of which was the spear used to wound Christ on the Cross.

Fra Angelico fresco depicting Longinus wounding Jesus on the Cross

Then there is Khor Virap, near the border of Turkey, perched high on a hill overlooking the Ararat plain. With its long history dating from 642 AD and its spectacular views of Mt. Ararat in the distance (the legendary resting place of Noah's ark), this monastery is probably the most visited pilgrimage site in Armenia.

Khor Virap with Mt. Ararat in the distance.

Tsminda Sameba, or Gergeti Trinity Churh, is another 14th century monastery in Georgia that rises to heights of its own -7200 feet in the mountains, to be precise. Standing outside the monastery, with evocative views of the mountains surrounding you, you can't help but feel that you are literally closer to heaven.

The Caucasus has legitimate reason to lay claim to the heavens, boasting some of the highest mountains in Europe. And it is these mountains, their valleys and neighbouring plains that make for some of the most beautiful vistas and stunning landscapes to be found anywhere.

Rising and falling in altitude dramatically, the Caucasus includes everything from glaciers to subtropical marshes. Travelling through Georgia, Armenia and Ajerbaijan means you are just as likely to snap photos of pine forests as you are grassy steppes, or perhaps capture wildflowers on an alpine meadow, or a waterfall splashing down the dark gorges. This land is a photographer's, and hikers, paradise.

If these aren't reasons enough to inspire you to discover this part of the world, here's one more: the Caucasus is still relatively unknown to travellers and mainstream tourism has yet to take hold. But this is going to happen - because with a history as colourful and diverse as its spectacular geography, the Caucasus is sure to emerge as a new favourite for travellers seeking something truly off the beaten track.

If you've shelved your plans to visit Egypt in the last year or two, now is definitely the time to start thinking about visiting again, particularly if you are looking for an experience that is less mass tourism and more meaningful travel. To truly appreciate Egypt's treasures requires the time - and space - to really see them, learn about their construction, and explore the sites without feeling rushed or crowded by busloads of tourists in front and behind you, filling every corner of every temple, tomb or museum. With visitor numbers now only a fraction of the millions they once were, it's only a matter of time before those tourists return - making this year one of the best times to visit Egypt.

Two more reasons why now may be the best time ever to visit Egypt...

1. Egypt is not the problem destination that the media portrays it to be.

In fact, the U.S. State Department currently has no official travel warning or alerts for the country, and our contacts on the ground assure us there is no cause for concern. ElderTreks' President, Gary Murtagh, even went over to Egypt a little over a year ago, to see for himself what was happening and his experience (which you can read more about here) confirmed what he had been hearing. His overall experience of Egypt? Even more impressive, authentic and welcoming than his first visit thirty years earlier.

Our guests who traveled there six months later on our October 2013 tour couldn't agree more. Safety was not an issue and when asked what their favourite thing was about Egypt they responded with comments like:

"Being able to finally go!" M/M Kronmiller

"No other tourists in Egypt" W. Vanderlest

"Everything! The guide was excellent and so was the itinerary. Abdul (tour leader) was constantly upbeat even when dealing with all of our requests and always willing to answer all of our many questions. He made the trip a wonderful experience with his in-depth professional knowledge of ancient Egypt! L. LaPiana

It goes without saying that the safety and security of our clients is paramount, and if we felt that a destination posed a threat, we would not hesitate to cancel it (it's the reason why you won't find Lybia, Syria or Israel on our current list of active trips.) But Egypt? Our next two departures are guaranteed!

2. Egypt's tombs are famous - but fragile. See them while you can.

Millions of tourists mean more than just inconvenience for travelers or lineups at popular sites; over the years, those same millions of visitors have taken their toll on the very sites they've come to visit, often through no fault of their own. The humidity and moisture brought in with them (including something as unavoidable as breathing) have wreaked havoc on the delicate paintings and walls of tombs that were never meant to be exposed to the outside world. Lengths of visits and numbers of visitors have had to be limited at many tomb sites, and glass partitions have been erected in an attempt to keep visitors from causing further damage. Some of the most impressive tombs, like that of Seti I, for example, has long been closed as it is too fragile for visitors.

It's likely only a matter of time before some others, including that of King Tutankhamun, may be closed to the general public. In fact, just this past May, an exact replica of the tomb of King Tut was unveiled a mile or so away from the original site, with every detail of the tomb recreated to exacting standards. The hope is that it would be virtually indistinguishable from the real thing, and would give travelers the opportunity to have an experience similar to visiting the original tomb, while protecting the original from more damage. Already there are separate tickets to view King Tut's tomb, and many tours do not include it on their itinerary. (Fortunately, our tour does include it)

But the writing, like the hieroglyphics, may be on the wall.

With no crowds to compromise the experience, and the ability to still visit authentic archaeological treasures (at least for now), what better reasons do you need to put Egypt back on your must-see list? You might even want to move it to the top.